Carla
Audio plugin host with signal routing
- Free • Open Source
- Music Production
- Audio Router
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
...
What is Carla?
Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control.
Carla currently supports LADSPA (including LRDF), DSSI, LV2, VST2/3 and AU plugin formats, plus GIG, SF2 and SFZ file support. It uses JACK as the default and preferred audio driver but also supports native drivers like ALSA, DirectSound or CoreAudio.
There are 4 types of engine processing:
Single-client: (JACK driver only) Same as Multi-client, except that all JACK ports belong to a single master client. This is needed when a setup doesn't support multi-client JACK apps, such as LADISH. Multi-client: (JACK driver only) Every single plugin is exposed as a new JACK client. Audio and MIDI ports are registered as needed. Rack: Plugins are processed in order, from top to bottom. Plugins with non-stereo audio channels are not supported, but a forced-stereo option is available for Mono ones. Patchbay: Modular patchbay mode, just like in JACK Multi-client and many other modular applications. Every plugin gets its own canvas group and ports allowing you to interconnect plugin audio and MIDI.
Carla currently supports LADSPA (including LRDF), DSSI, LV2, VST2/3 and AU plugin formats, plus GIG, SF2 and SFZ file support. It uses JACK as the default and preferred audio driver but also supports native drivers like ALSA, DirectSound or CoreAudio.
There are 4 types of engine processing:
Single-client: (JACK driver only) Same as Multi-client, except that all JACK ports belong to a single master client. This is needed when a setup doesn't support multi-client JACK apps, such as LADISH. Multi-client: (JACK driver only) Every single plugin is exposed as a new JACK client. Audio and MIDI ports are registered as needed. Rack: Plugins are processed in order, from top to bottom. Plugins with non-stereo audio channels are not supported, but a forced-stereo option is available for Mono ones. Patchbay: Modular patchbay mode, just like in JACK Multi-client and many other modular applications. Every plugin gets its own canvas group and ports allowing you to interconnect plugin audio and MIDI.
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Tags
- audio-plugin-host
- vsti
- audio-sampler
- signal-router
- vst-host
- vst
- signal-mixer
- audio-and-music
List containing Carla
Windows Free Audio ToolboxCarla videos
Carla
Summary
Our users have written 3 comments and reviews about Carla, and it has gotten 13 likes
- Developed by Open Source community
- Open Source and Free product.
- Average rating of 4.7
- 44 alternatives listed
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View allCarla was added to AlternativeTo by Atoshi on Dec 9, 2015 and this page was last updated Apr 29, 2020.
Open Source are the best software.
I use this on Windows as a VSTi host for MIDI instruments, like for using an eDrum kit to trigger EZ Drummer, as well as for practicing Guitar/Bass through amp sims with headphones, or for jamming with people when I don't feel like lugging my guitar amp around, but don't mind bringing my laptop, a small recording interface, and some wired speakers. I also use this on Linux, both for the same use as Windows described above, as a bridging host for 32 bit plugins and Windows VST's through Wine on 64 bit Linux native DAW's. Works REALLY well!!! Open Source is BEST Source, and it's fully cross-platform on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, too, so there's that as an added bonus.
Best app for routing audio between applications. I use it on both OS X and Linux. Open Source and well maintained.